SharePoint - APIs



In this chapter, we will be covering the several sets of APIs to access the SharePoint platform.

The selection of APIs depend upon the following different factors −

  • Application type
  • Developer existing skills
  • Device on which the code runs

Application Type

There are different types of applications such as −

  • SharePoint Add-in
  • Web Part on a SharePoint page
  • Silverlight application running on either a client computer or a client mobile device
  • ASP.NET application exposed in SharePoint
  • JavaScript running in a SharePoint site page
  • SharePoint application page
  • Microsoft .NET Framework application running on a client computer
  • Windows PowerShell script
  • Timer job running on a SharePoint server

Developer Existing Skills

You can easily create applications in SharePoint if you already have experience in any of the following programming models without needing to learn a lot about SharePoint programming −

  • JavaScript
  • ASP.NET
  • REST/OData
  • .NET Framework
  • Windows Phone
  • Silverlight
  • Windows PowerShell

Device on Which the Code Runs

The device on which the code runs can be any of the following −

  • Server in the SharePoint farm.
  • An external server such as a server in the cloud.
  • A client computer and a mobile device.

The following table provides guidance for different set of APIs, which can be used for a selected list of common SharePoint extensibility projects.

S.No. API & Usage
1

.NET Framework client object model, Silverlight client object model, REST/OData endpoints

Create an ASP.NET web application that performs CRUD operations on SharePoint data or external data that is surfaced in SharePoint by a BCS external content type, but does not have to call SharePoint across a firewall.

2

REST/OData endpoints

Create a LAMP web application that performs CRUD operations on SharePoint data or external data that is surfaced in SharePoint by a BCS external content type.

Create an iOS or Android app that performs CRUD operations on SharePoint data.

3

Mobile client object model

Create a Windows Phone app that performs CRUD operations on SharePoint data.

4

Mobile client object model and the server object model

Create a Windows Phone app that uses the Microsoft Push Notification Service to alert the mobile device of events in SharePoint.

5

.NET Framework client object model

Create a .NET Framework application that performs CRUD operations on SharePoint data.

6

Silverlight client object model

Create a Silverlight application that performs CRUD operations on SharePoint data.

7

JavaScript client object model

Create an HTML/JavaScript application that performs CRUD operations on SharePoint data.

Create an Office Add-in that works with SharePoint

8

Server object model

Create a custom Windows PowerShell command.

Create a timer job.

Create an extension of Central Administration.

Create consistent branding across an entire SharePoint farm.

Create a custom Web Part, application page, or ASP.NET user control.

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